Man avoids prison in indecency case

A 24-year-old Corpus Christi man accused of masturbating in front of three teenagers on their way to school in May pleaded guilty to the offense Wednesday.

James Fling pleaded guilty to three counts of indecency with a child in 347th District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos' court. He was sentenced to five years' deferred probation and ordered to pay a $1,500 fine and court costs, according to court records. Fling is a district manager for the Caller-Times.

Police said a 14-year-old and two 13-year-old girls were walking to West Oso Junior High School early May 23 when a man sitting in a parked car called to get their attention. When the girls looked inside they saw the man masturbating while naked below the waist.

One of the girls copied the car's license plate number. Police later secured an arrest warrant for Fling, who turned himself in that same week.

Details of the conditions of his probation were not immediately available. State law requires Fling to register as a sex offender.